In the recent fortnight the array of unfolding news had the usual trepidations. One set put my hair on ends.

It's the unlikely linkage between the Regent of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah, his state mufti Harusani Zakaria, and the unlikely Federal Territory Gerakan chairman and member of Parliament for Segambut Dr Tan Kee Kwong.

The Regent has been one whose sense of civil enlightenment is exemplary. He may be an ivory tower constitutional monarchial head of a state, but his royal feet are on the ground. He knows the score: that in the difficult process of nation building the people in the modern democratic (albeit monarchial) system of government should be guaranteed all of the civil liberties spelt out clearly in the constitution.

What more, the constitution is the primary source of law and authority in the land. There can be no other above it.

Enter the mufti Harussani. It may be a matter of coincidence or is it more of an accident, but this mufti has made many public remarks that are of obvious detriment to the principles of civil liberties and sowing discord to the general population.